Rams Start Win Streak With OT Win Against UMass [VIDEO]

KINGSTON – Proving that no win is guaranteed in this year’s Atlantic 10 conference season, the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team upset the first place UMass Minutemen in a 81-78 thriller Wednesday night at the Ryan Center.

The Rams (5-18, 2-6 Atlantic 10) pulled the upset thanks to a career night from Orion Outerbridge. The senior center scored 29 points and snagged 11 boards, and also chipped in three blocked shots.

Trailing by two with about 30 seconds left in regulation, Outerbridge tied the game hit, sinking an open jumper from just beyond the free throw line. UMass (16-6, 5-3 Atlantic 10) attempted to win the game on a contested 3-point shot by Jesse Morgan, but he missed badly, not drawing rim as time expired.

In overtime, the Rams never trailed, and led by as many as five points. Raphiael Putney got UMass within one with 31 seconds remaining, driving down the lane for an uncontested layup, but Outerbridge and Malesevic went 4-for-4 down the stretch to seal the game for URI.

The Minutemen had a final chance to tie the game with about 4 seconds remaining. Freddie Riley got an open look from about 30 feet away, at an angle from the elbow, but the shot didn’t fall.

URI did a good job of limiting UMass point guard Chaz Williams. Although he finished 12 points and eight assists, he also had nine turnovers. Neither team took especially good care of the ball, with the Rams finishing with 21 turnovers to the Minutemen’s 20.

The Rams dominated in two aspects of the game – rebounding and volume shooting. URI outrebounded UMass 48-35, as every member of URI’s eight-player rotation had at least three rebounds. Outerbridge led the team with 11, followed by Dominique McKoy’s seven, as the freshman picked up the slack after Jonathan Holton got into foul trouble.

All of the rebounds led to extra shot opportunities for the Rams. URI put up 73 shots, 13 more than UMass, making up for a less efficient offense.

URI will go for its third win in a row Saturday, as the Rams host the Temple Owls (16-5, 5-2 Atlantic 10) at 2 p.m. The game is being nationally televised on ESPN2.

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